quote:

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ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah

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Clearly the words of a crazy computer at its last moments of life.

Then the "ah"s are interrupted by a quick but distinct electrical crackle. And everything goes off.

SO!!

• What could this require replacement? (best & worst case scenarios) {i.e. powersupply, cpu, motherboard}
• What kind of specs/prices should i be expecting to replace any given destroyed item
• Anyone know any good computer psychologist?

Your help and input would be greatly appreciated. I'd like to get my computer up and running ASAP.
~Ken

[ February 06, 2005, 11:28 PM: Message edited by: Psycho Triad ]
 

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Posted by raventh1 (Member # 3750) on :
 
I take it if you try to power it up, nothing happens?
Do you have any extra stuff laying around? Try taking everything out but the ram, video, and cpu from the motherboard, to see if you can get it to at least post. (those including the psu would be the first things to swap out to find out what is dead. -- try the psu first, you can get a decent one for around $30-40.)
 

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Posted by fugu13 (Member # 2859) on :
 
If you can muster $500 or so, I'd just buy a new computer. What were the relevant specs on this one?
 

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Posted by raventh1 (Member # 3750) on :
 
lol mac mini. I almost said that... but decided to try and help troubleshoot
 

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Posted by Boris (Member # 6935) on :
 
The electrical crackle is a sign of power supply destruction usually. And if it affected things while the computer was running, you more than likely have some other damage besides the power supply. I don't think it's much of a stretch to say your whole computer just really did commit suicide. Of course, I'd have to be there to individually test each component and see if they still work. What I'd like to know is, how old is your computer? If it's a few years old, it's probably a good idea to get a new one. If it's fairly new, that's the only time it's worth salvaging portions of it.
 

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Posted by TomDavidson (Member # 124) on :
 
As Boris said, if you actually heard an electrical crackle, you probably have a dead power supply and a number of other dead parts, due to a massive power surge inside your system.

It's possible that you got lucky and you can repair everything for only around $40; it's much more likely, sadly, that repairs will cost considerably more.

With the price of new desktops running around $400 nowadays, I suggest just buying a new machine.
 

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Posted by Psycho Triad (Member # 3331) on :
 
I got home from work tonight, cracked open my case, and began searching for the culprit. the only time i've had a similar meltdown, i found the exact lil section of the power supply that "imploded".
Found : nothing.

So i take the hard-drives, stick in an old machine, just to see if the data is intact. Yay! Still is.

Then, for giggles, i return my computer to how it was. Try to boot.
Boots just fine, thank you.

So I now believe my computer is either:

• Self-repairing.
• A good faker.
• A divine entity that will earn me thousands of dollars when I auction it on EBay as the first holy PC.

Thanks to everyone for the help I didn't end up needing.
Crazy as always,
Ken

[ February 06, 2005, 11:33 PM: Message edited by: Psycho Triad ]
 

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Posted by raventh1 (Member # 3750) on :
 
yay, for troubleshooting.
 

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Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
 
Just remember: if it smokes, that's a bad sign.
 

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Posted by Lady Jane (Member # 7249) on :
 
It means it's hanging out with a bad crowd.
 

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Posted by Megan (Member # 5290) on :
 
And you probably need to start asking where it's going,who's going to be there, and when it's coming back. You know, knowledge: the anti-drug.
 

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Posted by Ben (Member # 6117) on :
 
aww man! Kat stole my joke! i got down to the end, and then got distracted by work, when i came back, she'd already beat me to the punch.

[ February 07, 2005, 11:15 AM: Message edited by: Ben ]
 

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